In DIABETES, "B" is another one of those letters that can stand for plenty. Basals, boluses, bruises, bumps. "B" makes me think of biscuits, babies, and books personally. And I could relate all those to diabetes but I'm not really looking for a collage. So instead, I'm going with a very specific meal of the day.
B: Breakfast is an important aspect of any diabetic's life. The first meal of the day can often make you or break you. I have to say that I'm a big breakfast fan. I grew up on my dad's homemade biscuits and waffles. I definitely still appreciate a good breakfast.
Unfortunately, breakfast is my worst meal of the day. Those few hours after are my most insulin resistant time of day. So all too often, I see post breakfast numbers way above where they should be for anyone. Especially when I'm indulgent with my favorite meals.
It never fails that diabetes likes to mess with your favorites. The way it ruins perfectly good dates. Or interrupts an amazing run. Even how a high can delay a decadent meal. The worst for me really has to be the after shocks of a nice breakfast.
Biscuits, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip pancakes, waffles with maple syrup, omelettes, french toast. My list is endless of the breakfast foods that I love. Unfortunately, most of them are also high carb or high fat or both. None of those things end with very pretty postprandial numbers.
This isn't about how I could end up with nice numbers by eating yogurt and fruit every morning. Even a banana can send me soaring after breakfast. It's about what diabetes complicates.
The first meal of the day. A simple start. A perfectly good reason to eat a hefty meal. And diabetes wants to ruin breakfast for all time.
My breakfast boluses take a different insulin to carb ratio than all the other meals. When I indulge, it takes even more. Ultimately, I end up taking quite large boluses for breakfast. The largest portion of my insulin throughout the day.
That in and of itself is irritating. I do not like taking large boluses. I don't like taking more insulin than is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, diabetes means that insulin is ALWAYS necessary. Another unfortunate thing is that I love to eat. I love to eat a lot. I love to eat carbs.
But diabetes takes all the fun out of breakfast and carbs and eating because it always has to be followed by boluses. It's ultimately always about the insulin. That gets exhausting after so many years of worrying about the mix of insulin to carb.
This is my notice to diabetes that I hate that it complicates my breakfast. It could at least give me my favorite meal of the day with the deliciousness of pancakes and waffles and scrambled eggs. For once, it could give back to me all that I give to it.
